Tennessee State Tigers football
College football team
Tennessee State Tigers football First season 1912; 113 years ago (1912 ) Athletic director Dr. Mikki Allen Head coach Eddie George 4th season, 24–22 (.522)Stadium Nissan Stadium and Hale Stadium (capacity: 69,143 and 10,000)Year built 1999 Field surface Tifsport Bermuda Sod Location Nashville, Tennessee NCAA division Division I FCS Conference Big South–OVC Past conferences SIAC (1926–1929) MAA (1945–1966)All-time record 555–288–33 (.652) Bowl record 8–1–1 (.850) Playoff appearances 7 Playoff record 3–6 Claimed national titles 12 (Div. II ): 1973 (Poll) (Black College ): 1946, 1947, 1954, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1979, 1982, 2013 Unclaimed national titles 4 (Black College ):1953, 1983, 1984, 2012 Conference titles 17 Colors Reflex blue and white[ 1] Website TSUTigers.com
The Tennessee State Tigers football program represents Tennessee State University in the sport of American football . The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as member of the Big South–OVC Football Association .
History
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(November 2018 )
NCAA Relegation
In 1981, the Tennessee State Tigers were relegated from Division I-A to Division I-AA.
First FBS Victory
Tennessee State Tigers first FBS victory came in 2017 when they defeated the Georgia State Panthers 17-10 for Georgia State's season home opener.[ 2] [ 3]
Championships
National championships
Year
Coach
Record
Championship
1946
Henry A. Kean
10–1
Black College National Champions
1947
Henry A. Kean
10–0
Black College National Champions
1954
Henry A. Kean
10–1
Black College National Champions
1956
Howard C. Gentry
10–0
Black College National Champions
1965
John A. Merritt
9–0–1
Black College National Champions
1966
John A. Merritt
10–0
Black College National Champions
1970
John A. Merritt
11–0
Black College National Champions
1971
John A. Merritt
9–1
Black College National Champions
1973
John A. Merritt
10–0
AP & UPI College Division National Champions Black College National Champions
1979
John A. Merritt
8–3
Black College National Champions
1982
John A. Merritt
10–1–1
Black College National Champions
2013
Rod Reed
10–4
Black College National Champions
Conference championships
Postseason appearances
Bowl games
Tennessee State has competed in ten bowl games and has a record of 8–1–1.[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs
The Tigers have made seven appearances in the NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship playoffs, with a combined record of 3–7.
Year
Round
Opponent
Result
1981
Quarterfinals
South Carolina State
L 25–26 OT
1982
Quarterfinals Semifinals
Eastern Illinois Eastern Kentucky
W 20–19 L 7–13
1986
First Round Quarterfinals
Jackson State Nevada
W 32–23 L 6–33
1998
First Round
Appalachian State
L 31–45
1999
First Round
North Carolina A&T
L 10–24
2013
First Round Second Round
Butler Eastern Illinois
W 31–0 L 10–51
2024
First Round
Montana
L 27–41
Alumni in the NFL
Over 100 Tennessee State alumni have played in the NFL,[ 15] including:
Annual Classic
References
^ Tennessee State University Brand Guide (PDF) . December 31, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
^ "Football History vs Georgia State University" .
^ "2017's first FCS-over-FBS upset: Tennessee State vs. Georgia State" . August 31, 2017.
^ "Tennessee State rips Tuskegee" . The Tennessean . January 2, 1945. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Texas negros lose Vulcan Bowl crown" . The Austin American . January 2, 1946. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tennessee State wallops Louisville in Vulcan Bowl" . The Tennessean . January 2, 1947. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tennessee State defeated 19 To 6" . Bristol Herald Courier . December 5, 1954. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tennessee St. plugs Bulldogs" . Wichita Falls Times . December 10, 1972. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Fumbling A&M bows, 41–39 In Orange Blossom Classic" . Tallahassee Democrat . December 2, 1956. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Ball State, A&I battle to tie" . The Jackson Sun . December 12, 1965. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tennessee A&I routs Muskingum 34–7" . The Daily News Journal . December 11, 1966. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tennessee State nips USL Ragin' Cajuns" . The Daily Advertiser . December 13, 1970. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "TSU denies McNeese an undefeated season" . Daily World . December 12, 1971. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Inductee John Ayers Merritt 1994 College Football Hall of Fame" . www.cfbhall.com .
^ "Tennessee St. Players/Alumni" . Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 29, 2015 .
External links
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Teams Championships & awards Related links